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My Family Favorite Layered Casserole stacks up yummy cheesy goodness that brings smiles all around. Through lots of testing in my kitchen, I've found it's that perfect mix of tasty beef, smooth cream cheese and melted cheddar that has everyone grabbing seconds.
What's So Unique About This Dish
This casserole is super quick to throw together. Just 15 minutes of work and then the oven does the rest. When those tasty beef layers meet the creamy stuff, something wonderful happens. It's become what I make whenever I want a dinner that's both cozy and sure to make everyone happy.
What You'll Need
- Ground Beef: I pick the lean kind so we get flavor without grease.
- Garlic Salt: A dash makes everything taste better.
- Marinara Sauce: This makes our tasty base layer.
- Egg Noodles: They're perfect for soaking up all the creamy sauce.
- Sour Cream & Cream Cheese: These make our amazing middle layer.
- White Onion: Gives that nice little crunch and zip.
- Cheddar Cheese: Creates that can't-resist gooey topping.
Steps To Create This Delight
- Get The Noodles Ready
- Boil those egg noodles until almost done as they'll finish cooking in the oven.
- Fix The Meat
- Get your beef nice and brown with some garlic salt pour off the fat then mix in marinara and let it bubble a bit.
- Create The Creamy Stuff
- Stir your soft cream cheese sour cream and onion together until you get a smooth mix.
- Build Your Dish
- First noodles then meat then creamy mix then more noodles making pretty stacked layers.
- Finish And Cook
- Sprinkle all that cheddar on top then bake until bubbly and golden about 25 minutes at 350°F.
Smart Cooking Tricks
Don't rush mixing that cream cheese blend it needs to be totally smooth. I've found that leaner beef works way better and sometimes I toss in some red pepper flakes for a bit of kick. Always let it sit for a few minutes after it comes out the oven the taste gets even better.
Prep In Advance
This dish works great for planning ahead. I often put it together the day before and just cook it a bit longer when I'm ready. Any leftover portions heat up great in the oven or microwave just put something over the top so it doesn't dry out.
Tasty Changes
You can swap in ground turkey if you want something lighter or try different pasta shapes for fun. Throwing in some mushrooms or peppers adds color and flavor. Play around with cheese combos on top try mozzarella with parmesan for something different.
What To Serve With It
We like having a simple green salad or some bright green broccoli on the side. Grab some crusty bread too for scooping up extra sauce. Add a nice red wine and you've got a proper dinner going.
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Nutritional Bonuses
You'll get plenty of protein and calcium from this dish. Sometimes I use whole grain pasta to add some fiber. It's the type of filling warm food that keeps hunger away for hours.
Why It's A Winner
Making this casserole always brings happy faces around my table. Those smooth layers and that stretchy cheese make every bite feel like a hug. It's become such a hit in our house I know I'll keep making it forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I make this without gluten?
- Absolutely, just swap the egg noodles for gluten-free pasta and double-check that all your other stuff doesn't have gluten in it.
- → Can I get this ready earlier?
- For sure, put everything together beforehand and stick it in the fridge. Just cook it a bit longer when it's cold.
- → Will it work if I freeze it?
- It sure does. Let it cool down first, wrap it up good, and you can keep it frozen for up to 3 months. Just thaw it out before you warm it up.
- → Can I switch the pasta type?
- You bet, egg noodles are the old standby, but any middle-sized pasta works fine in this dish.
- → Why should I drain the meat?
- Getting rid of the extra fat keeps your dish from getting too oily and helps keep everything the right consistency.